Calling on the Prayers of the Righteous

I was looking forward to this post a few days ago, but after today, it took a whole new turn.



As some of you already know, I am pregnant with our second child. I am 11 weeks along. I went in to the doctor's office today to listen for the heartbeat, unfortunately we couldn't hear it (which is what happened with Isaac as well) so the doctor did an ultrasound. We could hear the heartbeat, but we also discovered a serious complication.



The doctor discovered a cyst on the back of the baby's neck--which is called cystic hygroma. Essentially, the baby didn't circulate it's fluids as it was suppose to. (It's more complex than that, but that's it in a nutshell).



This could take many directions. We will have a test done in the next week to determine if it is a chromosomal abnormality. If it is a chromosomal abnormality, it could be either Turner's syndrome, Tri 18 or Tri 21. If it is Turner's, there is a 99% chance I will miscarry. If I pass 26 weeks without a miscarriage, I am in the 1% group that could make it to delivery but there most likely are issues at that point. If it is Tri 18 it is considered a lethal chromosomal problem, meaning if I make it to delivery and the baby survives it there is a 90% chance the baby won't make it past their first birthday. If they do, it's a matter of months or years. And Tri 21 would be down syndrome.



If the test proves that it is not a chromosomal abnormality, the most likely factor we would be facing is a heart defect. If that is the case, we would learn the extent at the 20 week ultrasound. Some holes could close on their own, and if necessary a surgery could be performed when the baby was 3 months. This wouldn't be the only risk we'd be facing, but most likely the biggest.

Right now there is no risk to me. And this condition is a random "bad luck" type of thing--not hereditary.

To term it, we feel like the rug has been pulled out from underneath us today. It's one thing to know that there are pregnancy complications, it's another to be told it's you having the complications.



With all that has happened today, we feel truly blessed to have the knowledge of the Gospel in our lives. I know that the Lord would not give us anything that we could not handle. And, as Taylor put it, the Lord created this cystic hygroma, and he can also take it away.



I am not looking for your sympathy or your pity with this post, instead I feel a great need to ask for your faith, your hope, and most importantly your prayers. We believe in miracles. We know the Lord is mindful of our hearts right now. And more importantly we are willing to accept whatever happens. So please, keep us in your prayers.